Harry Potter: For The Greater Good

[Murphy_]

[8 August, 1988]

"Wake up, sweetheart! It's time for school."

A pleasant voice from a woman echoed throughout the house. There were sounds of footsteps as a lady knocked on the door of the room.

*Knock* *Knock*

It was a small but cosy room full of bookshelves, a study desk and a comfy bed. Photo frames of a happy family were kept on the desk, showing a man hugging his wife and his son, while his pregnant wife was gently cradling the soft curve of her belly.

Comic books of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC were scattered throughout the room. Posters of superhero characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Jean Grey and many more were plastered across the entire room.

In this room full of life, there was a child of small frame sleeping on the soft bed curled beneath a cosy blanket. The child was around 7 years old, with tousled raven black hair, pale skin with a youthful glow across his face.

As the woman came close to him, she shook him gently and said, " Adrian, my cute little son. It's already 7 AM. Time to wake up!"

Listening to her voice, Adrian stirred a bit, his eyebrows scrunched up but his eyes remained closed.

She smirked knowingly, caressed his face, squeezed his cheeks teasingly and said, "Adrian, you need to wake up soon. You have school today. You'll need to have a full breakfast. "

After a few more nudges when Adrian didn't wake up, she smiled playfully and walked across the room. She opened the door and shut it without going out of the room. Then, tiptoed to the bed and peered over the edge of the bed at him.

After a few seconds, Adrian squinted his eyes and saw his mom smiling knowingly above him, "I knew it! I knew you were faking that. You think I can't recognise whether my son is sleeping or not??"

Then, she grabbed him by his stomach and started tickling him.

"Hahaha Hahahaha, I am sorry, Mom. I am sorry.", Adrian started pleading to her while squirming under the mercy of her hands. His mother didn't stop tickling him and said mischievously, "This is a punishment for you. How dare you play tricks on me!"

The door opened behind them and a deep voice said, "That's more than enough punishment, Ashley. You will wear yourself out at this rate."

Ashley looked back and said with a pout, "C'mon Darian. You think I can't spend some happy moments with my cute son?".

"I am not stopping you from doing that, honey. But remember, you are not alone. You have to take care of another life along with you.", said Darian as he held Ashley in his arms and kissed her on her forehead.

"Yes, Mom! You need to take care of my little sister.", said Adrian sitting on the bed behind them.

"Oh, Adrian thinks he has grown so much that he can lecture his mom about taking care of herself, huh?", said Ashley as she squeezed his cheeks. She looked at him lovingly and kissed him on his cheeks and said, "Good Morning, Adrian."

Adrian hugged his mom and dad one after the other and said, "Good Morning Mom and Dad!". Darian pats him on his back and said urgently, "Now, hurry up or you will be late for school!"

"Ok, Dad. I am going to get ready!"

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At the dining table downstairs, Ashley was reading the newspaper while eating her breakfast. Darian was cooking in the kitchen as Adrian came downstairs with his school bag.

The smell of freshly toasted bread and scrambled eggs wafted in Adrian's nose as he came down the staircase and took a deep breath. His small feet tapped gently against the floor.

He was dressed in his freshly pressed school uniform, which was a white shirt tucked into bright navy blue pants and a striped tie that suited the colour combination. He looked like a child who was printed on the school brochure that was presented to potential parents. Though, his wild raven-black hair might be the factor that would prevent that, since they refused to be tamed no matter what method was used.

Ashley smiled from behind the newspaper as she saw her son enter.

"There's my handsome boy," she said warmly, folding the paper and setting it aside.

"Come, eat quickly. Your dad made scrambled eggs today."

Adrian sat on the chair and gave a big smile to her. "Yay! Dad's eggs are the best!"

From the stove, Darian turned to them and smiled at both of them. He came to the table and presented the plate to Adrian and said, "Ta dah! Try that toast and tell me how it tastes."

Adrian bit into the toast and said "The toast is heavenly!"

Ashley chuckled softly, placing a glass of milk beside him and said lovingly, "Eat up. You don't want to be late for school."

As Adrian munched on his breakfast, he looked at both his parents. His dad had curly, black hair with a healthy tan on his skin. He was wearing a flowery apron over his work clothes, his sleeves rolled up which looked extremely funny to him whenever he noticed that.

His mom had blonde hair tied in a ponytail and sparkling blue eyes. Sher was wearing a loose yellow dress while her hands gently rested over her baby bump.

After finishing his breakfast, Adrian jumped off his chair and rushed to his parents. He wrapped his arms tightly around his mom and whispered in her ears, "I love you, mom,",

Ashley stroked his hair with both hands, her eyes tender, pecked his cheeks and said, "I love you too, my little angel."

He then turned to his dad, and Darian picked him up with a grunt, spinning him in the air before setting him down.

"Alright, champ. You got your lunch? Homework?"

"Yes, Dad. Everything's packed. I don't forget things. I am not a child anymore. ", said Adrian rolling his eyes.

Darian laughed, placed a gentle hand on his head and said, "Good. Now, go be awesome."

Adrian nodded at them, picked up his bag and waved goodbye to both of them.

"Be safe, honey!", called out Ashley.

However, unlike what Ashley and Darian thought Adrian didn't go straight to school.

He walked a bit of the way, glanced around quickly and after ensuring no one was watching, he then moved off the pavement.

His shoes tapped against the concrete as he slipped through a narrow path between two suburban homes, It was a shortcut he had discovered weeks ago. Adrian hummed across the way, he smelled the scent of dewy grass and heard the chirping of birds nearby.

The alley opened into a small park hidden behind the houses, It was an old unmaintained park with lots of weeds growing all over the place along with a couple of flowers. This was Adrian's secret place.

He walked over to a patch of earth near the garden's edge, where a single daisy stood alone, its white petals slightly wilting. Adrian knelt before it, putting his bag beside him.

He reached out towards the flowers with both of his hands, not touching the flowers but at a distance from them. He focused immensely, trying to gather that familiar feeling he had felt a few times in the past year. His fingers trembled slightly, and he tried to remember that feeling of warmth. He didn't understand how it was possible but he knew he could do it.

His eyebrows furrowed in focus and warmth emerged in his chest. He let that flow guide him because he knew that would result in what he desired to do and soon, the daisy trembled.

Its petals stretched upward, and it gained a pearly shine. There was no trace of that flower being in a wilted condition. There was a soft golden glow that had lit the centre of the flower, for a flicker of a second that could be easily missed and it disappeared as if it was never there.

Adrian's breath stopped as he kept staring at that fully developed flower.

"See?" he whispered to himself.

"I knew I was special."

He said that as if he was confirming his belief and to him, what he saw and he did was proof that he was different from other people. His fingers curled into his palm out of excitement as he plopped back on the grass.

He had no explanation of how and why he could do something like that, but he had powers that others didn't have.

Adrian touched the flower gently and muttered under his breath, "I don't know what this is… or how. But I'm not like them. I know it. I feel it in my bones."

There was a pause, as if coming to terms with his situation.

"…I just wish someone else knew as well."

Suddenly, a sharp realisation hit him and he shouted, scaring off a few birds as well, "The time!"

Adrian stood up, grabbed his bag and bolted out of the park as if he was running for his life. His shoes slapped the pavement as he darted through the same alleyway he had used before. He entered the main street and started running to his school while weaving through other kids and the crowd as his bag bounced on his back.

He took the last turn and the tall black gate of his school entered his eyes. There were already a couple of teachers standing there to control the final rush of students before the doors were closed.

Adrian sighed in his mind as he thought, 'I'm late again.'

He raced past the school gate and rushed toward his classroom flinging the door open, while panting throughout the whole way.

Their class teacher Mr. Farley looked up from the blackboard. He looked at the clock and raised an eyebrow, asking the reason behind Adrian being late, "Mr. White??".

Adrian leaned against the door, trying to catch his breath and thought of an excuse quickly, "Sorry, sir. I... I took the long way."

He gazed at the classroom as his friends waved at him.

Mr. Farley sighed and ushered him to take his seat quickly, "Take your seat, Adrian.".

Adrian nodded quickly and walked to his desk with a smile, relieved that not get any punishment. He sat beside a boy with brown hair who gave him a high five. Adrian returned it and opened his bag to take out his notebook.

Just as the class was going to settle down, the door opened again. However, it wasn't a late student this time.

The deputy headmistress entered the class with her thick glasses and her strict gaze. Along with her, there was a new girl. She was Adrian's age, maybe slightly older. Her skin was pale like porcelain, and her short hair fell around her face in soft silvery waves. Her expression was unreadable, and there was a reserved look on her face as if she thought that she didn't belong there. She wore the same uniform as everyone else, but it seemed off. As if it didn't belong to her, but she wore it anyway, because she had to.

Mrs. Button said with an authoritative tone, "Everyone, settle down. We have a new student joining us today.".

Murmuring in the classroom stopped at once as students looked at the new girl curiously.

The girl stepped forward as Mrs. Button introduced her, "This is Delphini. Delphini Riddle. She's transferred here from out of town. I expect you all to treat her kindly and help her settle in."

Her eyes scanned the room slowly, as she was trying to gain an understanding of the classroom.

Her eyes passed Adrian as well and he felt a strange chill run down his spine when their eyes met for a second.

She took the empty seat by the window without showing any expression at all.

Mr. Farley went back to teaching basic geometry but Adrian couldn't focus. He kept stealing glances at her.

She sat completely still, not writing anything just focusing on what was being taught in the classroom.

Adrian thought to himself, 'Something about her feels different.'

Adrian looked down at his notebook as the numbers got muddled in his eyes. His thoughts circled back to the daisy in the park, what he did and then he thought of Delphini.

The classroom buzzed around him with idle chatter, the drone of the lesson in the background but Adrian's mind was elsewhere.

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[Murphy_]

The bell rang throughout the school like a metal gong and every student took a sigh of relief on being spared from the dull droning of teachers. Children spilt out from their classrooms running in all directions, mingling with other students. Lunch break had begun at the school.

Adrian White strolled through the crowded corridor surrounded by his friends arguing over where they should sit for lunch.

"Oi Adrian," said Michael, a lanky boy with curly brown hair.

"Are you going to join football trials next week to break your record again or what?"

Adrian shrugged nonchalantly with a playful smile, "We'll see. Maybe I'll give someone else a chance this time."

His group burst out laughing. A girl beside him smirked and said, "As if your ego would allow that. You hate not to be the best in football at all times."

Someone nearby nudged his shoulder as they passed by, "Heard you got an A in all subjects last midterm."

There was a collective groan in the group all of a sudden.

"Popular and smart," said Reggie, mock-fainting around him. "Remind me why we are still friends with you?"

"It's not like that, Reggie. You can't blame me for your poor performance if you didn't study before those exams. " Adrian replied jokingly tossing a hand in the air, drawing a few more laughs from the group.

As they reached an open area near the lunch benches where most friend groups sat together during lunch. The atmosphere changed slightly and a gentle silence settled across the crowd.

Walking into the courtyard alone was the new girl who hadn't talked at all since arriving, Delphini Riddle.

Her pale silver hair shimmered slightly in the gleaming sun. Her skin was smooth and unnaturally fair like porcelain untouched by the sun. Her uniform was worn neatly with the folds crisp and untangled. She walked without looking at anyone as her gaze was forward and steadfast, ignoring everyone around her.

Two girls from the senior class rushed towards her. Lisa with her flashy pink headband and Jenny with her fake lip gloss.

"Hey!", said Lisa in an overly cheerful voice.

"You're the new girl, right?"

Delphini stopped walking and turned her head slightly towards them without a change in her expression.

"I'm Lisa and this is Jenny. We just wanted to welcome you! It's not every day we get a mysterious transfer student."

"You seem like you are from a fancy, posh private school. How come you had to come here?", Jenny chimed in eyeing her neat appearance.

"You can sit with us if you want. We'll be sitting on that side.", said Lisa while pointing towards an empty table.

Delphini surveyed them for a few seconds. Her eyes were unreadable. She shook her head slightly and politely said, "I appreciate your words. But I do not wish to talk."

The girls got a small smile as they heard the first sentence, but the next line bewildered them.

Then Delphini did a small nod at them as she moved towards a quiet corner in the courtyard.

When she said that, there was a stillness in her voice. It didn't feel like mockery or arrogance. Just finality. She said it the way a queen would declare a decree in a matter-of-fact tone. Softly said with power that didn't need to shout.

The three girls stood frozen like statues as if they couldn't believe someone had denied their invitation.

Lisa blinked and said, "What… did she just say?"

"She rejected us," whispered Jenny with a scandalised expression.

"We were trying to be nice."

Adrian was watching from across the yard and raised an eyebrow at the humorous situation. His friend beside him stifled a laugh.

"Cold.", muttered Reggie.

"She stunned the mean girls. This was a day worth coming to school for. I feel sad for someone who didn't witness this. "

"She didn't even mean it rudely.", said Michael.

"She just… said it."

Adrian didn't say anything. His eyes followed her as she walked to the edge of the field to a tree in the far corner and sat down alone. Her hands were folded neatly on her lap while her lunch remained untouched.

Throughout the day whenever Delphini came into his sight, Adrian couldn't stop himself from taking a few glances at her.

In class, she never raised her hand to answer any question like some students might do to prove their worthiness to other people and achieve that feeling of validation. But when a question was directed to her, she would answer it softly when called with a composed tone and always be right.

She wasn't like other students of her age. She wrote nothing and didn't doodle even after continuous lectures. Her desk was kept perfectly clean while the book of the current subject being taught was kept in the middle of her table.

In the hallway, she didn't stop to talk or glance at anyone. Her footsteps were soft and light, however, every corridor she passed by lessened the buzz in that corridor by a notch.

In History, while the rest of the class was discussing the Great Fire of London, she wrote something in her notebook and showed it to the teacher. The teacher examined it for a few minutes and then nodded.

Adrian kept watching her. He didn't mean to. But his gaze was drawn to her again and again.

"She's spooky.", muttered Reggie beside him during lunch, munching on a packet of chips.

"Don't get me wrong. She kinda looks like a 'vampire girl' waiting in silence to find her next victim."

"She's just quiet.", replied Adrian absently as his fork was poking the untouched peas on his plate.

"Quiet? Mate, she talks like a medieval ghost and looks like she's going to levitate during assembly."

Adrian didn't laugh at the joke. He just glanced across the yard again.

She was reading a book under the tree. It was a thick book with a leather-bound cover with no title on the cover.

The final class of the day was Physical Education. The football ground was loud and hot as the scent of sweat hung in the air like fog. Students ran across the grassy field while yelling.

Adrian as always, moved like he belonged on the court being fast, focused and precise. He dribbled past three students and scored cleanly with a smooth flick. The PE instructor clapped once, nodding.

"Good work, White!"

Adrian gave a casual thumbs-up.

At the far side of the ground, sat Delphini on the grass observing the game happening.

She wasn't dressed for PE. She'd been excused from participation on her first day. The coach didn't argue.

Adrian caught her in his peripheral vision. She stood like a statuewithout any reaction even if the play was happening near her.

Near the equipment rack, Gregor, a huge bulky boy known more for his foolish antics than any other thing was fooling around with a few others. He was known for knocking people over accidentally… and occasionally on purpose.

He picked up a spare football.

He smirked and said to his friend, "Watch this."

Adrian's gut tensed, thinking Gregor was not up to any good at all.

Gregor turned toward Delphini and kicked the football with a surprising force at her. The ball was hurtling at her head.

Adrian's heart jumped and without thinking about anything else, he yelled at her, "Delphini!"

She turned her head hearing someone shout her name and noticed the ball coming towards her.

Her cold eyes flicked up towards the incoming ball and then something changed.

There was no sound at first, but then a spark shimmered in her eyes flickering. A beautiful shade of violet.

*BOOM!*

The ball exploded mid-air. It didn't pop or get torn but exploded.

Adrian flinched back instinctively. The blast released a pulse of light. For a split second, the air around that blast was filled with strange fragments, it looked like crimson shards that floated, sparkled and shimmered like crystal fragments caught in light. They spun slowly as they fell and faded into nothing soon.

Adrian stared at it. Everyone gasped, as it had their attention when they heard that sound.

But no one else reacted to the shards.

No one but him.

"Delphini!", called out the PE instructor asking if she was alright.

She didn't move from her place, didn't even flinch at what happened just now.

She turned slowly toward the teacher and with a blank expression she said, "I am alright, teacher. Please excuse me since I am not feeling well."

No panic. No emotion.

Just silence.

The instructor turned toward Gregor who looked like he'd just wet himself and shouted at him, "For God's sake, what were you thinking?!? That could've knocked her out cold!"

"I–I didn't think she'd just stand there-"

"That's no excuse. You're staying after class and we'll be writing an incident report."

Gregor looked at the floor with his face burning red out of embarrassment

Meanwhile, Adrian couldn't stop staring at the outline of Delphini as she walked towards the school.

Delphini was gone but whatever happened just now was imprinted in his mind.

The ball.

The shards.

The glow.

He picked up another ball that had been near the explosion site. There was no evidence of anything wrong with it.

'What just happened right now?'

Adrian stood frozen in his place and said to himself, "That wasn't a hallucination."

He knew what he had just seen.

Delphini Riddle was hiding something.

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